There are so many reasons people attend fairs. Here’s what the October, 1913 issue of Farm Journal said about the purpose of fairs:

The word fair, as now used in America, has lost much of its Old world meaning. In this country the fair, whether we call it a world’s fair or a state fair, a county fair or district fair, is an industrial exhibition. And this is as it should be.

It places the fair on a strictly business basis; it makes of it a practical, helpful thing. Conducted on an industrial, practical line, the fair is designed to help both the farmer and the city resident. It is the common meeting ground of all classes. At the fair the man who produces and the man who buys, the grower and the manufacturer, get together. They learn what each is capable of doing, and ascertain each other’s need.

It is remarkable how much benefit we can get out of the fair when we attend filled with a desire to learn—to gain something worthwhile.

The farmer who is seen “taking notes” at a fair—jotting down the name of this big apple, the weight of that monster pumpkin; who writes down all the information he can get about caring for hogs, poultry raising, feeding; who investigates the new kinds of machinery, and secures all available figures about up-to-date methods—that farmer will make his trip to the fair a valuable thing. He can do this and still have plenty of time to accompany his family to the side show, to take a whirl on the merry-go-round, or throw a ball at the doll babies.

Very interesting! Maybe the bad weather put her off? Fairs are pretty grim in teeming rain… The October fair in the village where Norah, ‘my’ English diarist, lived is still going. It was always known as The Wakes and was the highlight of the year when I was a child. It has long been entirely fairground rides, which line the main street (and cause the shops to close – shopkeepers hate it!) It would be interesting to know at what point the ‘harvest’ element disappeared.

Ahh so it’s like a farmer’s market with rides! Fairs, church, picnics were more exciting back in Helena’s day I think because that is when you got to see everybody. The rest of the time, although you may have company, I would imagine you were managing the household and farm.

Our fairs, in the Shenandoah Valley, and adjoining mountains, tend to occur in late July and August. They are annual events that folks here look forward to each year. Now we are seeing the color of the trees change, and Heritage/Homecoming Weekends are in order. Folks work all year preparing for these events. Nice to know that in rural communities, some events cannot be purchased any week/day of the year.
Oscar